Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-02-2013 WT Study (NAME)

Why did Rutherford choose the new name in 1931 of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” when the bible only identifies Christians as Jesus’ witnesses or witnesses of Jesus?

Even the bible says that Jesus’ followers became known as “Christians” by “divine providence” not Jehovah’s witnesses.

Does Jehovah appear in the oldest manuscripts? If not, how does the world come up with a pronounceable version? Are we to believe that “Jehovah” was brought about by the Catholic Church?

*** na p. 17 God’s Name and Bible Translators ***

In time, God’s name came back into use. In 1278 it appeared in Latin in the work Pugio fidei (Dagger of Faith), by Raymundus Martini, a Spanish monk. Raymundus Martini used the spelling Yohoua. Soon after, in 1303, Porchetus de Salvaticis completed a work entitled Victoria Porcheti adversus impios Hebraeos (Porchetus’ Victory Against the Ungodly Hebrews). In this he, too, mentioned God’s name, spelling it variously Iohouah, Iohoua and Ihouah. Then, in 1518, Petrus Galatinus published a work entitled De arcanis catholicae veritatis (Concerning Secrets of the Universal Truth) in which he spells God’s name Iehoua.

START OF ARTICLE

1, 2. In contrast with the churches of Christendom, how do

Jehovah’s Witnesses view God’s name?

BY AND LARGE, Christendom’s churches have distanced

themselves from God’s name. For example,

the Revised Standard Version states in its preface:

“The use of any proper name for the one and only

God . . . is entirely inappropriate for the universal

faith of the Christian Church.”

COMMENTS

Have they distanced themselves? I have found many churches that use “Jehovah” in the name of the group, in the name of their church, in the religious songs they sing.

What does the WTS leave out in the … spot? Why?

(1) The word "Jehovah" does not accurately represent any form of the Name ever used in Hebrew. (2) The use of any proper name for the one and only God, as though there were other gods from whom the true God had to be distinguished, began to be discontinued in Judaism before the Christian era and is inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian Church.

http://www.bible-researcher.com/nrsvpreface.html

2 Jehovah’s Witnesses, on the other hand, are

proud to bear God’s name and to glorify it. (Read

Psalm 86:12; Isaiah 43:10.) Furthermore, we count it

a privilege to understand the meaning of that name

and the universal issue involving its sanctification.

(Matt. 6:9) That, though, is a privilege that we must

never take for granted. Accordingly, let us consider

three important questions: What does it mean to

know God’s name? How has Jehovah lived up to his

great name, thus adding to its glory? And how can

we walk in Jehovah’s name?

COMMENTS

Why do jws take pride in carrying “God’s name” but not the name of Christ? Why not Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses? They used that once. 362 times in the 1970’s then in 1980’s only 4 times (WT) How many times does “the name of Jesus” appear in the NWT?

Can anyone know God’s name if the pronunciation has been lost and not regained? And not knowing this how can the next questions be answered accurately?

WHAT IT MEANS TO KNOW GOD’S NAME

3. What does it mean to know God’s name?

3 To know God’s name involves much more than

merely being acquainted with the word “Jehovah.” It

includes knowing Jehovah’s reputation, as well as

his qualities, purpose, and activities as revealed in

the Bible, such as his dealings with his servants. Of

course, Jehovah grants this insight progressively, according

to the outworking of his purpose. (Prov. 4:

18) Jehovah revealed his name to the first human

pair; thus, Eve used it after giving birth to Cain.

(Gen. 4:1) The faithful patriarchs Noah, Abraham,

Isaac, and Jacob knew God’s name. Moreover, their

appreciation for it grew as Jehovah blessed them,

cared for them, and revealed aspects of his purpose

to them. Moses was granted special insight into

God’s name.

COMMENTS

While they might have known the true name of God, does anyone today know that reputation? The bible says that Eve, Cain Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob talked with God. Have you had a one on one conversation with God where he talks to you directly and you answer? No organization, no publications, no bibles.

4. Why did Moses ask God about his name,

and why were Moses’ concerns understandable?

4 Read Exodus 3:10-15. When Moses

was 80 years of age, God gave him a

weighty command: “You bring my people

the sons of Israel out of Egypt.”

Moses responded respectfully with a

question, one of profound significance.

In effect, Moses asked: ‘What is your

name?’ Considering that God’s name

was long known, what was the point

of Moses’ question? Evidently, he wanted

to know more about the person represented

by the name—facts that would convince

God’s people that He really would

deliver them. Moses’ concern was warranted,

for the Israelites had been slaves

for some time. They would likely wonder

whether the God of their forefathers

could deliver them. Indeed, some Israelites

had even taken up the worship of

Egyptian gods!—Ezek. 20:7, 8.

COMMENTS

Was God’s name already known to Moses? The WTS says that when Moses wrote Genesis he used writings by people before him, Adam, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Are they saying that Moses did not know his history?

The Israelites would not be convinced about God delivering them knowing the account of Noah and his family being saved through the flood?

5. How did Jehovah shed more light on the

meaning of his name in his reply to Moses?

5 How did Jehovah reply to Moses’

question? In part, he said: “This is what

you are to say to the sons of Israel, ‘I

SHALL PROVE TO BE has sent me to you.’ ”*

Then he added: “Jehovah the God of

your forefathers . . . has sent me to you.”

God revealed that he will become whatever

he chooses to become so as to accomplish

his purpose, that he will always

prove true to his word. Hence, in

verse 15 we read that Jehovah himself

said: “This is my name to time indefinite,

and this is the memorial of me to

generation after generation.” How that

revelation must have strengthened Moses’

faith and filled him with awe!

COMMENTS

Note God is talking directly to Moses, no intermediary or books.

*God’s name is a form of a Hebrew verb meaning

“to become.” Thus, “Jehovah” means “He Causes to

Become.”—Gen. 2:4, ftn.

JEHOVAH LIVED UP TO HIS NAME

6, 7. How did Jehovah fully live up to his great

name?

6 Shortly after commissioning Moses,

Jehovah fully lived up to his name by

‘proving to be’ Israel’s Deliverer. He

humiliated Egypt with ten devastating

plagues, at the same time exposing

the Egyptian gods—including Pharaoh—

as impotent. (Ex. 12:12) Then

Jehovah opened up the Red Sea, led Israel

through it, and drowned Pharaoh and

his military force. (Ps. 136:13-15) In the

“great and fear-inspiring wilderness,”

Jehovah proved to be a Preserver of life

as he provided food and water for his

people, perhaps numbering from two to

three million or more! He even caused

their garments and their sandals not to

wear out. (Deut. 1:19; 29:5) Yes, nothing

can stop Jehovah from proving true to

his incomparable name. He later stated

to Isaiah: “I—I am Jehovah, and besides

me there is no savior.”—Isa. 43:11.

COMMENTS

Have you seen any deliverance with the spirit power of overcoming Pharaoh, a big body of water opening up and then closing at the right time?

PICTURE: Moses knew the meaning of God’s name,

and that strengthened his faith

7 Moses’ successor, Joshua, also witnessed

Jehovah’s fear-inspiring deeds

in Egypt and in the wilderness. Hence,

near the end of his life, Joshua could

with heartfelt conviction say to his fellow

Israelites: “You well know with all

your hearts and with all your souls that

not one word out of all the good words

that Jehovah your God has spoken to

you has failed. They have all come true

for you. Not one word of them has

failed.” (Josh. 23:14) Yes, in no uncertain

terms, Jehovah fulfilled his word—he

‘proved to be.’

COMMENTS

Remember Joshua saw the sea open up and close. He had accompanied Moses to Sinai, the first to see the commandments. Not even Caleb saw that. Certainly none of us have seen that.

8. How is Jehovah living up to his name in our

time?

8 Likewise today, Jehovah is ‘proving

to be.’ By means of his Son, he foretold

that during the last days, the Kingdom

message would be preached “in all the

inhabited earth.” (Matt. 24:14) Who else

but God Almighty could foretell such a

work, see that it is done, and use many

“unlettered and ordinary” people to accomplish

it? (Acts 4:13) Hence, when

we share in this work, we actually share

in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. We

honor our Father and show that we really

mean it when we pray: “Let your name

be sanctified. Let your kingdom come.

Let your will take place, as in heaven,

also upon earth.”—Matt. 6:9, 10.

COMMENTS

How was the message preached “in all the inhabited earth” in the first century?

Are jws the only one’s preaching the Kingdom message?

www.forum18.org

HIS NAME IS GREAT

9, 10. By his dealings with Israel, how did Jehovah

continue to add meaning to his name,

and with what results?

9 Shortly after Israel’s Exodus, Jehovah

became something new to his people.

By means of the Law covenant, he

became their “husbandly owner,” willingly

taking on all the responsibilities

associated therewith. (Jer. 3:14) The Israelites,

in turn, became his figurative

wife, his name people. (Isa. 54:5, 6)

As they willingly submitted to him

and kept his commandments, he would

prove to be the perfect ‘Husband.’ He

would bless them, keep them, and assign

peace to them. (Num. 6:22-27) Jehovah’s

great name would thus be glorified

among the nations. (Read Deuteronomy

4:5-8; Psalm 86:7-10.) Indeed, throughout

Israel’s history, many foreigners

were drawn to true worship. They, in effect,

said what the Moabitess Ruth said

to Naomi: “Your people will be my people,

and your God my God.”—Ruth 1:16.

COMMENTS

Law covenant only applied to Israelites…WTS says today “new covenant” only applies to “spiritual” Israelites. Did Ruth stay a “foreigner” or did she convert to the worship of the Israelite God? If she hadn’t, how could she be an ancestress of the Messiah? So Ruth does not represent non-Israelite worshippers.

10 For some 1,500 years, Jehovah’s

Pharaoh refused to recognize Jehovah as God

dealings with Israel revealed many new

facets of his personality. Despite the nation’s

waywardness, over and over Jehovah

proved to be “a God merciful” and

“slow to anger.” He was a God of extraordinary

patience and long-suffering. (Ex. 34:5-7)

Jehovah’s patience, nevertheless,

did have a limit, and that limit

was reached when the Jewish nation rejected

and killed his Son. (Matt. 23:37,

38) The fleshly descendants of Israel

ceased to be God’s name people. In the

main, they became spiritually dead, like

a withered tree. (Luke 23:31) How did

this affect their attitude toward the divine

name?

COMMENTS

Why was God patient? How could the Messiah come if not from Israel, a clean Israel religiously. What happened to God’s patience with the Jews after Jesus came? No more, and he pronounced destruction on them, permanent.

11. How did God’s name come to be disassociated

from the Jewish nation?

11 History indicates that, in time, the

Jews developed a superstitious attitude

toward God’s name, viewing it as something

that they should not pronounce.

(Ex. 20:7) God’s name gradually became

disassociated from Judaism. It no doubt

hurt Jehovah to see his name treated so

disrespectfully. (Ps. 78:40, 41) However,

God, “whose name is Jealous,” clearly

would not forever attach it to a people

who had disowned him and whom

he had disowned. (Ex. 34:14) This fact

should impress upon us the importance

of treating our Creator’s name with

great respect.

COMMENTS

If God was so hurt, why did he not preserve his name as he preserved his “word”?

Reproach on God or the congregation? Not on Jesus?

A NEW PEOPLE CALLED BY GOD’S NAME

12. How did Jehovah produce the foretold

name people?

12 Through Jeremiah, Jehovah revealed

his purpose to establish “a new

covenant” with a new nation, spiritual

Israel. All its members, “from the

least one of them even to the greatest

one of them,” Jeremiah foretold, would

“know Jehovah.” (Jer. 31:31, 33, 34) That

prophecy began to be fulfilled at Pentecost

33 C.E. when God established the

new covenant. The new nation, “the Israel

of God,” which included Jews and

non-Jews, became “a people for [God’s]

name,” or “people who are called by my

name,” said Jehovah.—Gal. 6:16; read

Acts 15:14-17; Matt. 21:43.

COMMENTS

So were Jesus’ followers know as “Jehovah’s witnesses” or Christians and witnesses of Jesus? (Acts 1:8)

Why the brackets []? After all the beginning of the sentence says “God”. Would they think he meant Jesus?

(Acts 15:13, 14) 13 After they quit speaking, James answered, saying: “Men, brothers, hear me. 14 Sym′e·on has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for [his] name.

13. (a) Did the early Christians use God’s

name? Explain. (b) How do you view the privilege

of using Jehovah’s name in your ministry?

13 As “people who are called by

[God’s] name,” the members of that

spiritual nation used the divine name,

certainly doing so when quoting from

the Hebrew Scriptures.* Thus, when the

apostle Peter addressed an international

audience of Jews and proselytes at Pentecost

33 C.E., he used God’s name a

number of times. (Acts 2:14, 20, 21, 25,

34) The early Christians honored Jehovah,

so he, in turn, blessed their efforts

in the preaching work. Likewise today,

Jehovah blesses our ministry when we

proudly proclaim his name and show

it to interested ones, in their own Bibles

if possible. We thus introduce

them to the true God. What a privilege

—for them and for us! That introduction may

in some cases be the beginning

of a wonderful relationship with Jehovah

that will grow ever stronger and last

forever.

COMMENTS

What about where the WTS inserts God’s name where a scripture from the OT is not being quoted?

So what about a relationship with Jesus? Is that reserved only for the anointed?

*The Hebrew text used by the early Christians

contained the Tetragrammaton. Evidence points to

the conclusion that the same was true of early copies

of the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew

Scriptures.

14, 15. Despite the spread of apostasy, what

has Jehovah done about his memorial name?

14 Apostasy later began to infect the

early Christian congregation, especially

after the death of the apostles. (2 Thess.

2:3-7) False teachers even adopted the

Jewish tradition of not using God’s

name. But would Jehovah allow his memorial

name to be erased? Never! Granted,

its exact pronunciation cannot now

be determined, but the name has endured.

Over time, it has appeared in various

translations of the Bible, as well as

in the writings of Bible scholars. For example,

in 1757, Charles Peters wrote that

“Jehovah,” in contrast with God’s many

titles, “seems to be the most expressive

of his essence.” In a 1797 book on the

worship of God, Hopton Haynes began

chapter 7: “JEHOVAH the proper name of

GOD among the Jews; whom alone they

worshipped; as also did Christ and his

Apostles.” Henry Grew (1781-1862) not

only used God’s name but also recognized

that it had been reproached and

must be sanctified. Likewise, George

Storrs (1796-1879), a close associate of

Charles T. Russell, used God’s name, as

did Russell himself.

COMMENTS

“its exact pronunciation cannot now be determined” why not, is it beyond the holy spirit? God can preserve the bible but not his name?

15 The year 1931 was particularly

noteworthy, for in that year the International

Bible Students, as God’s people

were then called, adopted the Scriptural

name Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Isa. 43:10-

12) They thus announced to the world

that they were proud to be servants of

the only true God, to be “a people for

his name,” praising that name. (Acts 15:

14) These developments call to mind Jehovah’s

words found at Malachi 1:11:

“From the sun’s rising even to its setting

my name will be great among the nations.”

COMMENTS

Was “Jehovah’s Witnesses” scriptural? Per the WTS only anointed jws are “spiritual Israelites,” and Isaiah 43:10-12 was addressed only to the Israelites. When Peter talked about a people for his name (no brackets), he was speaking about anointed Christians only.

WALK IN JEHOVAH’S NAME

16. Why should we view it as an honor to walk

in Jehovah’s name?

16 The prophet Micah wrote: “All the

peoples, for their part, will walk each

one in the name of its god; but we, for

our part, shall walk in the name of Jehovah

our God to time indefinite, even

forever.” (Mic. 4:5) That Jehovah allowed

the Bible Students to adopt his name

was more than just a great honor. It was

also a reassuring indication of his approval.

(Read Malachi 3:16-18.) What,

though, about you personally? Are you

making every effort to “walk in the name

of Jehovah”? Do you appreciate what

that involves?

COMMENTS

“witnesses of Jesus”

Christians

Bible Students

Jehovah’s witnesses

Walking with Jesus?

*** w986/1p.9par.2‘GoOnWalkinginUnionWithChrist’***

He sent his only-begotten Son to the earth. In every step of his lifelong walk here on earth, Jesus Christ perfectly reflected his heavenly Father. (John 14:9, 10; Hebrews 1:3) So in order to walk with God, we need to walk with Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore, as you have accepted Christ Jesus the Lord, go on walking in union with him, rooted and being built up in him and being stabilized in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with faith in thanksgiving.”—Colossians 2:6, 7.

17. What is involved in walking in God’s

name?

17 Walking in God’s name involves at

least three things. First, we must proclaim

that name to others, recognizing

that only those who ‘call on the name

of Jehovah will be saved.’ (Rom. 10:13)

Second, we need to reflect Jehovah’s

qualities, especially his love. And third,

we walk in God’s name when we joyfully

submit to his righteous standards,

lest we bring reproach on our Father’s

holy name. (1 John 4:8; 5:3) Are you

determined to “walk in the name of Jehovah

our God to time indefinite”?

COMMENTS

How can we proclaim a name that is no longer accurately known?

What do jws think of, the impending eternal destruction of over 7 billion men, women and children…hoping for. How urgent do they feel in warning people effectively? Do they feel as Peter wrote here?

(2 Peter 3:9) 9 Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.

18. Why can all who honor Jehovah’s great

name look to the future with confidence?

18 Soon all who ignore or defy Jehovah

will be forced to recognize him.

(Ezek. 38:23) That includes individuals

who are like Pharaoh, who said: “Who

is Jehovah, so that I should obey his

voice?” How quickly he found out!

(Ex. 5:1, 2; 9:16; 12:29) We, though, have

willingly come to know Jehovah. We are

proud to bear his name and to be his

obedient name people. Hence, we look

to the future with confidence in the

promise recorded at Psalm 9:10: “Those

knowing your name will trust in you, for

you will certainly not leave those looking

for you, O Jehovah.”

COMMENTS

So will babies be forced to recognize him, or die eternally?

Pharaoh will be resurrected but babies who die at Armageddon will not be.

Obedient to the organization (GB) or God.

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Next week, RECEIVE FULL BENEFIT FROM READING THE BIBLE. Does this mean the WTS will start making full quotes and not snippets? Or use ellipses (…) to edit it to what they want; or use brackets [] to make an inserted word or explanation see to be god inspired?

Will jws use other bibles to compare as the WTS allows itself to do?

Love, Blondie

Listener

Thanks Blondie, you do a great job.

"14,15 Despite the spread of apostasy, what has Jehovah done about his memorial name?"

That does the term 'memorial name' even mean? He is a living God.

"Granted, its exact pronunciation cannot now be determined, but the name has endured."

How can a name endure if it can't be pronounced? Surely, it could only endure in the written form.

LoisLane looking for Superman

Thank you Blondie.

Just Lois

LoisLane looking for Superman

Are Zeus and Thor stronger god's because their names have endured without any special "Jewish or Christian" book?

Are the Pharoah's of Egypt stronger god's because their names have endured and people of all religions know these names and pronounce them correctly?

Just Lois

5go

Yeah I can wait for the watchtower to find out Jehovah (real name Yahu not making it up see below) names is also the name of a Summerian god who predates the Jews.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahu

Oubliette

Blondie: God had somehow preserved the bible per the WTS but not his original name and pronunciation?

To my mind, that either proves that there is no God named "Jehovah" and/or the pronunciation of His name is not particularly important.

ÁrbolesdeArabia

Why is it so hard for the Watchtower Scholars to accept YHWH loved his Son so much and he exalted Jesus Chirst above all other names in Heaven? Early Christians were given this title by the Holy Spirit, by what authority did Judge Rutherford have the right to usurp Jesus Christ's proper role with all mankind?

This is week two without much talk of Jesus Christ or Christianity and the real message the early Christians preached. The more you learn about their real message, the more it diverges from the Sales Practices and money schemes the Watchtower tests out on it's own people They only care about money and blind obedience to their eight apostles.

JW GoneBad

I couldn’t help but think of the expression ‘Cooking The Books’ after reading this WT study article and Paul Grundy’s article (jwfacts.com) entitled ‘Jehovah In The New Testament’.

As some may know, ‘Cooking The Books’ is a buzzword describing fraudulent activities performed by corporations when they falsify their financial statements so as to make their net worth appear favorable to investors. It is an illegal practice!

WT has ‘Cooked The Books’ so to speak by putting Jehovah in the New Testament. And why have they inserted Jehovah in the New Testament? To deflect attention from the Lord Jesus Christ to Jehovah, which would in turn further the Jehovah's Witness doctrine. This, according to God’s Word, is a forbidden practice as the following scriptures show:

‘Do not go beyond the things that are written.’ (1Cor 4:6)

‘ Every word that I am commanding YOU is what YOU should be careful to do. YOU must not add to it nor take away from it’ (Deut 12:32)

‘Every saying of God is refined…..Add nothing to his words, that he may not reprove you, and that you may not have to be proved a liar.’ (Prov 30:5,6)

‘However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to YOU as good news something beyond what we declared to YOU as good news, let him be accursed. As we have said above, I also now say again, Whoever it is that is declaring to YOU as good news something beyond what YOU accepted, let him be accursed.’ (Gal 1:8,9)

Thank you Blondie

blondie

Great comments. If you check Russell's writings, they are not peppered with "Jehovah" and the focus is much on Jesus, the one they were to rule with in heaven. In one place he is called their big brother. According the the WTS of today, only the anointed are Christ's brothers and the non-anointed won't be adopted officially (or unofficially) until the end of the 1,000 years.

When I attended, I truly thought the only place where Jehovah appeared in the NWT were scriptures quoted from the OT where the tetragrammaton appeared. In the last 10 years of my tenuous attendance, I found that they invented another rule and inserted it in places where it never appeared in the OT.

Deceptive. I think I linked Paul Grundy's pages up above in my comments.

WTWizard

To start, I will name one church I have seen using Jehovah at least occasionally--the Presbyterian Church. Others might have heard other denominations using Jehovah's name--cat lick or protestant.

And I found out what the name of joke-hova actually stands for: Slavery, torture, intolerance of sexual orientations that differ from a rigid standard, women being treated like scum, and being expected to give up your money for the church or God. Joke-hova used threats of death to get its people to obey--and that was a people that thing explicitly created to enslave the whole human race and snuff out happiness, using communism. If the Jews, who were created by joke-hova to oppress, could not obey joke-hova, what hope is there for those of us who innately belong to Satan? Ultimately, it is coming down to another Vatican style smackdown, whether it be the Vatican itself or the washtowel imposing such a smackdown. Otherwise, joke-hova's name stands for tyranny and oppression.

As for the article itself, it is another worn-out trip down the same "highway" that starts with Adam wisely obeying Father Satan instead of submitting to joke-hova and ends with destruction of those who do not become jokehovian witlesses. I wonder how many witlesses are finally going to have enough of going down the same dead end and start going elsewhere. Your options are endless, and you have the right to explore different religions as you see fit. If you are inclined to, by all means go to another church, or several different ones--or research them online. Cross-examine it. You also have the right to check out Judaism and Islam, along with the pagan religions--examine them online if possible. There is no sin in going to another church only to realize it is wrong, too--it is stupidity when it becomes blatantly obvious that something is wrong and you still support it or when you refuse to acknowledge that truth may lurk elsewhere and you quit researching before you are sure the platform is wrong.

Benefits from the LIE-ble? You get to find out what kind of tyrant joke-hova really is. Such as slaughtering everyone because they are not his "chosen people", relegating women as "scum", enslaving us all, lying to us, torturing and murdering people to bring them into a religion, using death or hell threats to keep us in line, and not wanting for us to prosper. Joke-hova wants you just above the poverty level, or slightly below, so you will trust that thing for everything. Satan, on the other hand, wants us to have all the money we can use--so we don't need to trust someone else for every little thing. In Satanism, you work on doing the little things yourself and call on Satan when you can't handle something. With joke-hova, you rely wholly on that thing for every little thing, and give that thing all credit even when you do something yourself.

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-02-2013 WT Study (NAME)

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